Bourque emotional in leaving Flames for Habs

Considering how many times Rene Bourque has heard his name bandied about in trade gossip, he sure got caught off-guard by the news Thursday night.

Showing up to work out during the first period of a 1-0 Calgary Flames overtime victory over the Anaheim Ducks, he didn’t even get a chance to get into his gym clothes before finding out he was headed to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Michael Cammalleri.

“I got pulled aside by Burkie (Flames director of hockey administration Mike Burke) to take me upstairs to see Jay (GM Jay Feaster),” Bourque said. “I heard Cammy got taken off the ice earlier, on my way to the rink, so when I got pulled aside, I had a pretty good idea I was going to Montreal.

“It’s a big shock. I had no idea any of this was going on.”

His watery eyes and cracking voice gave that away pretty quickly. The 30-year-old from Lac La Biche, Alta., was in Calgary for three-and-a-half seasons and scored 88 goals for the Flames.

He had 13 goals and 16 points through 38 games this season, but has twice been suspended — for hitting Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Brent Seabrook in the back and chucking an elbow at Washington Capitals centre Nicklas Backstrom’s head.

Bourque was four games into his five-game punishment for the Backstrom hit when the trade was made. The game had to begin before the deal was finalized for it to count against his suspension.

He didn’t get a chance to say goodbye in person, a fact that clearly upset Curtis Glencross, his road roommate of nearly four years.

“I didn’t even know during the game,” Glencross said of the trade that took place in the first period. “He was gone already (after). I haven’t had a chance to speak with him. Hopefully get a chance to talk with him tomorrow.

“Ever since we both got here, we’ve been roommates ever since. You hate to see a guy like that go, and an Alberta boy. But it’s part of the business. I wish Bourquie all the best in Montreal.”